Branching Out: An Introduction to Watersheds
Emily Chrusciel, Nashua School System; Stephanie Barger, Derry School System
Grades:
3-5
Objectives:
The students will be able to
• Determine the definition of a watershed and how the landscape dictates
watershed boundaries
• Explore how watersheds work
• Map a watershed on the Maine tile map
• Discuss human impacts on watersheds
Curriculum Connections: Geography, Earth Science
Geography for Life Standards 1 & 7:
How to use maps and other geographic representations, geospatial
technologies, and spatial thinking to understand and communicate
information. 4.3.A
The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth’s surface 4.1.A
Common Core Standards:
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.7
Interpret information presented visually,
orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines,
animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the
information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it
appears
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4
Determine the meaning of general academic
and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or
subject area.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative
discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners
on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their
own clearly.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational
texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Materials Needed:
• The Maine Atlas
• Cardstock paper (one sheet per student)
• Blue paper (one sheet per student)
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Non-permanent markers
Spray bottles
Maine Tile map
Blue and yellow yarn
Lesson Overview:
In this lesson, students will explore the concept of watersheds and how their
boundaries are dictated by landscapes. Students will gain an understanding of
their local watersheds through use of The Maine Atlas.
Getting Started:
Allow time for discussion to ensure understanding of the following terms.
• Terms to know:
• Watershed
• Creek
• Brook
• Stream
• River
• Lake
What is a Watershed?
• A drainage area of a river and its tributaries
• The area includes creeks, brooks, streams, rivers, lakes, etc., and crosses
county, state and national boundaries.
• Precipitation drains downhill into bodies of water, and carries sediments
and other materials to a final destination.
Explain to students that both parts of this lesson will focus on the concept of
watersheds and where watersheds are in relation to students’ home location in
Maine.
Developing the Lesson:
PART 1/Day 1 (Exploring and understanding watersheds):
• Pass out a piece of cardstock and blue paper to each student
• Have students crumple cardstock sheet into a ball
• Have students partially unfold cardstock until it resembles mountains and
valleys
• Place cardstock on top of blue paper, which represents the lowest
elevation of a watershed. (see National Park Service reference)
• Have students mark high points on cardstock with a pencil or crayon
(these are the mountain peaks)
• Pass out one marker to each student
• Have students use the marker to mark the valleys on cardstock
Stop and Explain
Have students observe the “mountains” and “valleys” on their cardstock and
discuss how the mountain peaks separate (divide) the watersheds from one
another. If water falls on top of the mountain peak, some of it will flow down
one side into a watershed and some water will flow down another side into a
different watershed.
• Using a spray bottle, have students gently spray each watershed and
observe where the water flows.
PART 2/Day 2:
• Discuss with students what they learned about watersheds in part 1 of the
lesson.
• Distribute The Maine Atlas and turn to page 8, Major Rivers, Lakes and
Watersheds.
• Through use of this map, have students determine which watershed they
live in and identify major rivers located in their watershed.
• Discuss the major rivers that make up students’ watershed area and make
note of the patterns water makes as it branches to form watersheds.
• Construct the Maine Tile map in a large open space.
• Have students outline their watershed boundary, on the tile map, with
yellow yarn. Use the Major Rivers, Lakes and Watersheds map as a reference.
• Now using blue yarn, have students trace and plot the major rivers and
streams that make up their watershed as noted on the Major Rivers, Lakes
and Watersheds map.
Wrapping Up:
Have students make note of the river(s) closest to their town/city and discuss
how their town/city impacts these rivers. Possible pollution topics may include:
litter, pet waste, loose soil and dust, herbicides/pesticides/fertilizer, oil/grease
from automobiles and factory waste. Ask students to think of a scenario in which
any of the above topics could affect their watershed over time. This conversation
should ultimately lead that all waste drains into the ocean.
Extensions:
• Explore other watersheds on the tile map
• Discuss conservation efforts on how to protect a watershed
• Write a letter to a local official on protecting a nearby watershed
Resources
Cherry, L. (1992). A river ran wild: An environmental history. San Diego:
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
National Park Service. (n.d.). Explore your watershed. Retrieved March 27, 2014
from http://www.nps.gov/seki/forteachers/upload/Explore-Your-Watershed-
3rd-and-4th-Grade-presentation.pdf.
Popova, M. (n.d.). The life cycle of a single water drop, in a pop-up book animated in
stop-motion water drop. [Web Video]. Retrieved from
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/01/23/revoluton-helen-friel/.
Strauss, R. (2007). One well: The story of water on Earth. (R. Woods, Illustrator). Kids
Can Press.
Wick, W. (1997). A drop of water: A book of science and wonder. New York: Scholastic.
Edited by Raymond Jobin and adapted for Maine by Klaus J. Bayr.